Southern Railway Historical Timeline

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Historical Timeline for the Southern Railway

Early predecessors (1820s–1860s)

  • 1827: The South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company is chartered.
  • December 25, 1830: The company runs the first regularly scheduled steam-powered passenger service in the U.S. using the locomotive “Best Friend of Charleston”.
  • 1831: The South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company becomes the first railroad to carry U.S. mail.
  • 1833: The line from Charleston to Hamburg, South Carolina, is completed, creating the longest railroad in the world at the time.
  • 1836: The Hiwassee Railroad is chartered in Tennessee, later reorganized as the East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad.
  • 1846: The Memphis and Charleston Railroad is chartered to connect Memphis and Stevenson, Alabama.
  • 1847: The Richmond and Danville Railroad is chartered in Virginia.
  • 1848: The East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad is chartered.
  • 1856: The Richmond and Danville Railroad is completed, linking Richmond and Danville, Virginia.
  • 1857: The Memphis and Charleston line is completed, linking the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River.
  • 1859: The East Tennessee and Virginia and East Tennessee and Georgia lines connect at Knoxville.
  • 1861–1865: The U.S. Civil War severely damages the southern rail network, and many companies fall into financial distress.

Consolidation and expansion (1860s–1890s)

  • 1869: The East Tennessee and Virginia and East Tennessee and Georgia are consolidated to form the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad (ETV&G).
  • 1869: The Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway (CNO&TP) is chartered to build a line between Cincinnati and Chattanooga.
  • 1871: The Richmond and Danville Railroad leases the North Carolina Railroad.
  • 1880s: The Richmond Terminal Company is formed and begins acquiring a large number of southern railroads, including the Richmond and Danville and ETV&G.
  • 1892: Due to an economic depression, the Richmond Terminal and its subsidiary railroads enter bankruptcy.
  • 1893: The failure of 27,000 miles of railroad, including many Virginia lines, provides the opportunity for reorganization.

The Southern Railway era (1894–1982)

  • July 1, 1894: The Southern Railway is formed by financier J. P. Morgan, consolidating the bankrupt Richmond Terminal holdings, including the Richmond and Danville and ETV&G systems.
  • 1894–1906: Samuel Spencer serves as the first president, overseeing initial growth.
  • 1895: Southern acquires the Georgia Southern and Florida Railway.
  • 1895: Southern takes control of the Alabama Great Southern Railroad (AGS).
  • 1899: Southern acquires control of the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway (CNO&TP).
  • September 27, 1903: The “Wreck of the Old 97” passenger train derailment occurs near Danville, Virginia.
  • 1916: Southern takes over the New Orleans and Northeastern, solidifying the “Queen and Crescent” route.
  • 1918–1920: The U.S. Railroad Administration takes control of the railway system during World War I.

Modern era

  • 1941: Southern introduces its first diesel-powered passenger streamliners, The Southerner and The Tennessean.
  • 1941: Dieselization efforts are implemented, and the last steam locomotive is retired by 1953.
  • 1963: The Central of Georgia Railway is acquired, extending Southern’s reach in the region.
  • 1966: A popular steam excursion program begins under President W. Graham Claytor Jr..
  • 1974: Southern acquires the original Norfolk Southern Railway.
  • 1979: Southern transfers its remaining passenger operations, including the Southern Crescent, to Amtrak due to losses.

Consolidation era

  • 1980: Southern and Norfolk & Western announce their intention to merge, forming the Norfolk Southern Corporation.
  • June 1, 1982: Southern Railway merges with the Norfolk & Western Railway to form the Norfolk Southern Corporation.

Southern-Railroads.org Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the Southern Railway and its predecessors. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Southern-Railroads.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.

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